Ties with Iran cut because it was added to ‘terrorism list’: John Baird

Ties with Iran cut because it was added to ‘terrorism list’: Baird

TORONTO — As violence and extremism threatened to undo the gains of the Arab Spring, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said Friday Canada would focus on helping countries emerging from dictatorship by promoting the full participation of women.

In a rare declaration of Canada’s priorities in a world suddenly rocked by upheaval, Mr. Baird told the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations the government was pursuing a “principled, value based” foreign policy centred around the role of women.

“I have made it a priority to advocate for the participation of women at all levels of society, especially as old regimes fall and new governments emerge in countries seeking progress, freedom and dignity,” according to the text of his luncheon address.

I don’t know how you’d call a state a ‘state sponsor of terrorism’ and then leave men and women on the ground there

“I do this because states where woman play vital, central roles in government and civil society are generally more prosperous and more pluralistic overall. If we want fewer extremist governments, we need the active participation of women in all aspects of society.”

While the minister portrayed women as an antidote to extremism, in Iran, women protested the film Innocence of Muslims by holding signs equating Judaism with garbage. Our war will culminate with the takeover of Palestine, read a placard held by a woman in a black robe cradling a sleeping baby.

Baird made no mention in his speech about his surprise decision to suspend diplomatic relations with Tehran. The NDP has criticized the move. But later, Mr. Baird told reporters the government was required by legislation passed in March to produce a list of state sponsors of terrorism by Friday. He said since Iran was to be placed on the list, he was concerned about the safety of embassy staff.

“I don’t know how you’d call a state a ‘state sponsor of terrorism’ and then leave men and women on the ground there,” he said, adding, “Our embassy in Tehran is not as safe as we’d like it to be. It’s right on the road, there’s no set back, and that was another contributing factor .… At the end of the day it just became uncomfortable for us to leave it open.”

Responding to the minister’s speech, Paul Dewar, the NDP foreign affairs critic, said there was a gap between what the government said and what it did. He said if the government was serious about women’s rights it would have supported access to abortions under the child and maternal health strategy.

“You’ll pardon me if I don’t believe the rhetoric because I haven’t seen evidence of the action,” Mr. Dewar said. “Sign me up if they’re serious about advancing the agenda for women and girls … I applaud the idea of the government embracing this issue, but if they’re going to do it, do it right because otherwise it’s lip service.”

As he spoke, protesters in the Muslim world were storming embassies over an obscure anti-Islamic film, but the minister made no direct reference to those events in his speech. Instead, he discussed the challenges posed by the fast-moving foreign policy landscape.

“Amid today’s rapid changes, we see a common denominator. Whether in Tunisia, Cairo or Damascus, people are fighting for dignity. The dignity to live in freedom. The dignity to live in peace. The dignity to provide for one’s family,” he said.

“In this storm of change, Canada stands like a beacon of light, built around our fundamental values of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. We have a clear vision of what it takes to build the conditions in which people live with the dignity others crave.”

In his speech, the minister described his fight to end early forced marriages of girls as young as nine. He also said Canada would encourage Libya, Tunisia, Egypt and Yemen to recognize the benefits of making sure women played active roles in governing. In addition, he said he was also calling on countries to repeal “regressive and punitive laws” against homosexuality.